 
How HIV infects the body
You can only catch HIV if all three of
these conditions are met :
1. A body fluid with a high concentration
of HIV must be present.
There are only four fluids in the human body that meet this
condition:
BLOOD -- including menstrual blood
SEMEN -- including pre-cum on the tip of an
erect (hard) penis
VAGINAL SECRETIONS — women slippery sexual
stuff
BREAST MILK — only a concern as food
for babies
2. The virus needs an entrance into
someone else's body.
HIV needs to get into the bloodstream in order to infect someone.
It can’t pass through healthy skin; it needs another means
of entry. HIV can get inside through a break in the skin, such
as a cut or a needle prick. The virus can be absorbed through
a mucous membrane, the moist lining of external organs like
the urethra, vagina, rectum, mouth, eye, nose. HIV can get inside
much more easily through an irritation of the mucous. This includes
tiny tears caused by sexual friction in either the anus/rectum
or vagina, or an open sore in the mouth.
3. There must be an activity that puts
one of these body fluids into contact
with one of these entry points.
The vast majority of activities can not transmit
HIV. Only certain specific activities pose a risk for HIV infection,
and the Risk Levels page
gives you all the details.
These activities put you at the highest
risk for catching HIV:
- Vaginal or Anal Sex without a Condom and
Water Based Lube
- Sharing Penetrative Sex Toys without a
Condom per person
- Sharing Needles and other Works (for drug
use, steroids, tattoos…)
You can greatly reduce your risk of contracting
HIV through these activities by using water based lubricant
with a latex condom and using your own new works.
Check out the Body
Art and Drugs
pages for more information on harm reduction, and then
check out the Sex
Page for more ideas, including how to play with
no HIV risk at all!
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